Operating mechanism for washing-machines.



H. G. BRAUNLIGH.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 24, 1909. I

Patented Aug. 31, 1909.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

H. G. BBAUNLI GH. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES. 4APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1909.

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I I /fi 7 e :31 M; vim 23 2/ f, ""EILlllllllllllllllllllfl UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

HUGO G. BRAUNLICH, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO 'IHE H. F. BRAMMERMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DAVENPORT, IOWA A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Iaten ted Aug. 31, 1909 Applicationfiled May 24, 1909. Serial No. 49 8,120.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUoo G. BRAUNLICH, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful 'In'iprovements in Operatingstored-up energy in the fly-wheel diminishing the work of operating themachine after it has once been started.

My improved mechanism is operatedby a lever so that the operator has asimple back and forward or up and down movement of the hand in using thedevice.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings il-lustratil'ig this invention :Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of a washing machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is aplan view of the same. Fig. 2-3 is a vertical sectional view taken uponline 3-4:; of-Fig.

My improvements are herein shownas applied to the particiilarconstruction of machine illustrated in the prior U. S. Letters Patentto'Schroeder issued on the 12th of March, 1895, wherein the shifting ormovable gear of the ilanetary gear mechanism is mounted on the operatingshaft, but may be applied to other n'iaehines of this general type.

In thedrawings, 5 designates a washing machine tub of any usual formmounted upon supporting legs (3, ti and provided with a hinged lid 7upon which is supported the operating meehanisnr hereinafter referredto. Mounted upon the lid 7 is a. base plate 8 which is provided at its'iniier end with a vertically arranged shell 9 in which is retativelvsupported an operating shaft "10 which depends into the tub and hastherein keyed to it an agitator 11 of familiar form. A sleeve 12 isfeathered to the shaft 10 within the shell 9 so as to rotate with saidshaft while being at the same time movable vertically thereon. Saidsleeve or cylinder is provided with radially arranged teeth or rollerbearing pins 12 which are adapted to mesh with'a spur gear 13 carriedupon the inner end of a continuously rotating drivin shaft 1- The saiddriving shaft is supported at its inner end in a bearing formed in theshell 9 and at its other end in a vertical standard 16.. In operation,the spur gear 13 engages first the upper side and then the lower side ofthe teeth or hearing pins to rotate the shaft 10 alternately in oppositedirections, the sleeve or cylimler 12' being caused to rise and fall atthe limits of the movement of the shaft 10 in a well known manner topresent the opposite sides of the teeth or bearing. pins alternately tothe spur gear as in the aforesaid Schroeder construction.

Secured t0 the outer end of the driving shaft 14 is a gear wheel whichis given continuous rotary motion by means of a. prime mover 2-1. Saidprime mover consists of a rocking lever comprising two arms 22 and 23,one of which, 22, is operatively connected with the gear wheel 20 bymeans of a link or pitman.24 and the other arm of which, 23, is providedwith a socket for receiving an operating handle 25. A fly-wheel 30,which is rotatively supported upon the tub lid 8 and independently ofthe prime mover, is provided-on its hub with a gear pinion 31 which isin mesh with the teeth of the gear wheel 20 and by means of which thesaid fly-wheel is driven continuously in one direction.

A suitable sup mrting plate 32 is secured to the lid of the tub and isprovided with outwardly projecting hubs and 34, the former supporting 'apivotal stud 35 upon which the prime mover 21 is mounted and the lattersupporting a pivotal stud 36 upon which the flywheel 30 is mounted.

In the operation of the machine, the rock ing. motion of the prime mover21 is translated into continuous rotary motion of the shaft 14 by meansof the pitman 24; and the gear wheel 20. The rocking motion of the saidprime mover is also translated into continuous rotary motion of thefly-wheel 30 through the gear wheelZt) and the pinion 31 on the hub ofthe saidfly-Wheel and the proportions of said gears are such that thefly- Wheel is rotated at a s eed considerably higher than that of thesliaft 14. As a result of the increased speed thus given to thefly-wheel and of its weight, the momentum ofthe rotating Wheel serves togive to the driving shaft a smooth and uniform rotation'and prevents theshocks, due to the reversal of the agitator shaft, from beingperceptibly transmitted to the prime mover. ,The tendency to retard themovement of the parts and the consequent loss of power at the points ofreversal is also avoided by this construction.

1 claim as my inventionz- 1. Means for operating a Washing machine,comprising in combination an operating shaft capable of rotaryreciprocating motion, a gear mounted on the operating shaft, 1 drivingshaft arranged to be drivei'i continuonsly in one direction, a spur. onsaid shaft 7 which meshes alternately with the opposite sides of thegear on the operating shaft to translate the continuous rotary motion ofthe said driving shaft into rotary reciprocating motion of the operatingshaft, an actuating lover, a fly-wheel and means for translating therocking motionof the actuating lever into continuous rotary motion ofthe driving shaft and into continuous rotary motion of the fly-wheel.

wheel, a fly-Wheel mounted independently of the operating lever andoperatively connected with the said gear wheel.

3. Means for operating a Washing machine, comprising in combination anoperating shaft capable of rotary reciprocating motion, a gear mountedon the operating shaft a driving shaft arranged to be drivencontinuously in one direction, a spur gear on one end of the drivingshaft which meshes alternately with the opposite sides of the gear onthe operating shaft to translate the continuons rotary motion of thedriving shaft into rotary reciprocating motion of the operating shaft, agear wheel on the opposite end.

of the driving shaft, a rocking actuating lever, a pitman connectingsaid actuating lever with said gear wheel, and a flywheel mountedindependently of the said actuating lever, and provided on its hub witha gear pinion engaging the teeth of the said gear wheel.

at. The combination with an o )erating shaft, ofa driving shaft arrangedto be drivencontinuously in'onc direction and adapted to give rotaryreciprocating motion to the said operating shaft, a rocking actuatinglever adapted to rotate the driving shaft, a flywheel mountedindependently of the actuating lover, a supporting plate hav ing(mhwn'dly projecting hubs formed thereon, pivotal studs supported in thesaid hnhs upon which are severally mounted the actnating lever and thefly-wheel, a gear mounted on the driving slreift, a pitman connectingthe actuating lever and said gear, and gear connections between saiddriving shaft and said operating shaft.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I atlix mysignature in the presence of two witnesses, this 19th day of May A, I).1909.

- HUGO G. BRAUNLIGH.

Witnesses:

I. C. ANnnnsoN,

J. PAARMAN.

